The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A search for faith amid
war, terror, and family strife.

Covington (Creative
Writing/Texas Tech Univ.; Redneck Riviera: Armadillos, Outlaws, and the
Demise of an American Dream, 2003, etc.) purports to look for faith against
the backdrop of a violent world. Though he occasionally stays on course, the
narrative takes a variety of detours, frustrating readers and muddling his
work. The author begins in Juárez, where drug-inspired violence has spread out
of control for years. He recounts the work of one preacher who, in addition to
burning an effigy of Judas to drive Satan out of the city, runs an inspiring
ministry, aiding those living, and escaping from, lives of violence. Covington
goes on to recount visits to Turkey, and to the Turkey-Syria border, where he
encountered both victims of and participants in the violence. Covington also
crossed over into Syria, witnessing firsthand the horror of war. This timely
and page-turning section represents the author at his best, as he ably conveys
the otherworldly scene of suffering and brutality. However, he continually
reverts back to his own personal story. In page after page of self-catharsis,
Covington describes growing up with his older brother, a troubled young man who
ended up in mental hospitals and nursing homes; his two failed marriages; and
his own mental health issues, including a lack of a will to live after
returning from Syria. Though not without merit, these sections continually
detract from the author’s real mission. Faith, in fact, has little to do with
this book. Covington does not have it, nor do most of the people he met during
his travels. When he does address people of faith in the midst of violence, he
is unable to report on their thoughts and motives with the depth needed for a
book on the topic.

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